Supporters of Liverpool and Manchester City will soon gather at Anfield under familiar, rain-soaked skies, yet recent developments cast a shadow on the legacy of English football’s recent history. Manchester City stands accused of significant financial misconduct, with allegations that the club artificially inflated its revenue by nearly £900 million through sham sponsorship deals over nearly a decade. A guilty verdict was reached this week, although City is appealing the decision.
Had the club operated within the rules, the landscape of English football might have unfolded very differently. The impact extends far beyond stripped titles and altered trophy counts; it touches on the personal and professional trajectories of players, managers, and entire clubs.
The discussion has prominently focused on Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp, who pushed City to the limit during his tenure, finishing second twice with more than 90 points. This context has led some to argue that Klopp’s style of play, rather than Pep Guardiola’s, should define a generation of football. Yet, questions remain about Klopp’s own career path—whether he would have joined Liverpool at all if City had not become the dominant force they were under their current financial arrangements. The 2014 season, marked by Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip, could have resulted differently, potentially allowing Brendan Rodgers to secure greater success and longevity at Liverpool. In this alternate reality, Rodgers might be the architect of the club’s modern era, receiving the recognition and accolades that Klopp currently enjoys.
This speculation extends beyond Liverpool. At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta might be embarking on a ninth season as manager, having taken over directly from Arsene Wenger in 2018, following a natural succession plan that did not involve Unai Emery. Without City’s inflated spending, the broader transfer market’s equilibrium shifts, potentially depriving clubs like Arsenal of funds and talent they otherwise secured.
Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany’s career path also comes under question. Signed before the club’s takeover, Kompany became a key figure and won several League Cups before moving abroad. In the absence of City’s financial irregularities, the trajectory of his return and his influence on the club’s later years may have been entirely different. Similarly, Enzo Maresca, who worked under Guardiola, might not have had the same opportunities.
The ripple effects also touch Manchester United. Different managerial appointments, such as Klopp inheriting the team earlier instead of Jose Mourinho, are plausible in this alternate history, reshaping the club’s fortunes. There is speculation that Guardiola might have taken the United job sooner, had Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement occurred under different circumstances, altering the competitive balance of English football over the past decade.
Other clubs, such as Leicester City, could have avoided financial overreach and maintained top-tier status rather than facing decline partly attributed to overspending after narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification. Eddie Howe’s current managerial challenges are framed within this context of changing fortunes.
Player careers and transfers, too, are thrown into uncertainty. Chelsea might have secured David Silva and John Stones earlier; Kevin De Bruyne could have thrived at United; Raheem Sterling may have found success at Liverpool; Tottenham might have signed Sergio Aguero before his move to City—each scenario creating further shifts, including implications for Harry Kane’s career.
These hypothetical alternatives demonstrate the far-reaching consequences of the financial irregularities attributed to Manchester City. Beyond the immediate penalties and lost titles, the club’s actions have potentially reshaped the development of players, managers, and rival clubs, leaving a stain on the history and integrity of English football whose full impact may never be fully understood.